THE smoke-filled air Chao Yuan Kong temple at Chew Jetty, George Town provided the backdrop to honour the Hokkien deity known as the Jade Emperor.
It is believed that after praying to the Jade Emperor God, the Hokkiens fleeing the Mongols were spared persecution. They hid in a sugarcane plantation, emerging on the ninth day of the first lunar month to find that the enemy had left.
Till today, on the ninth day of the first lunar month every year, Taoist temples worship Heaven with offerings of roast pig, pineapple, paper ingots and ang koo (bean paste cake), mee koo (red tortoise bun), and huat kuih (prosperity cake).
The family will set up an altar at the front entrance of the home, complete with a sugarcane tied to the side of the table or front door.
They give thanks for the blessings received the previous year and ask for another year of success and prosperity.
At the Clan jetties in Penang, a 35m long altar table is placed along the road for the clan members to place their offerings to the deity. Devotees take turns to pray and offer joss sticks n the urn at the front of the altar table. Others offer lit lotus candles and oil lamps.
The sounds of firecrackers puncture the air while a lion dance troupe thrills the throng with their footwork on high pillars.
The ceremony comes to a close at midnight with bursts after bursts of fireworks signifying the arrival of Hokkien New Year. Piles of gold paper ingots are set ablaze as offerings to Heaven. – February 16, 2019.
Devotees pray at the Jade Emperor God Festival at Chew Jetty in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, February 16, 2019.Residents offer platters of food on the communal altar table at the Jade Emperor God Festival at Chew Jetty in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, February 16, 2019.Temple volunteers bear the urn to the communal altar with much banging of drums and clashing of cymbals at the Jade Emperor God Festival at Chew Jetty in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, February 16, 2019.Temple volunteers lift the heavy urn onto the altar at the Jade Emperor God Festival at Chew Jetty in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, February 16, 2019.A lion dance is performed at the Jade Emperor God Festival at Chew Jetty in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh. February 16, 2019.Giant joss-sticks are burned as offerings to the Jade Emperor God, at Chew Jetty in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh. February 12, 2019.Devotees gather to pray and celebrate the Chinese New Year, at the Jade Emperor God Festival at Chew Jetty in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, February 16, 2019.Dragon dancers perform at the Jade Emperor God Festival at Chew Jetty in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, February 16, 2019.The fire crackers go off at the Jade Emperor God Festival at Chew Jetty in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, February 16, 2019.Gold joss papers are folded into ingots to be burnt as offerings to the Jade Emperor God, at Chew Jetty in George Town, Penang. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, February 16, 2019.
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